By Brian Marshall
Review Editor
For the second consecutive session, the Orion Township Board Meeting featured allegations, denials and plenty of general animosity.
The Monday meeting, Orion Township’s last until after the Aug. 2 Primary Election, included a fair amount of personal frustration between board members and some not-so-veiled accusations.
The focal point of the meeting likely was the situation regarding Clerk Penny Shults. Weeks ago, it was brought before the board that Shults — seeking re-election — had been using employee means of communication to promote her campaign. Such as using her government cell phone and email account to conduct campaign business. That is a violation of state law, regardless of how extensive or expensive the usage.
“What I’m hearing here is you admitted the violations. You said emphatically (previously) you did not use your phone for political reasons, yet I have phone records,” Board Supervisor Chris Barnett said. “I just want you to be honest and truthful.”
Shults denies using the equipment to purposely gain a campaign edge and she has contacted the state, which is continuing its investigation, to do whatever is requested of her to put the incident in the past.
“This is embarrassing to me and I did not intend for this to occur. I do question the timing,” Shults said. “I’ve done everything required.”
Shultz is opposing Jenn Zielinski for the clerk position.
A couple of board trustees, including Neal Porter and Mark Thurber, wanted the issue put in the past. “She has done everything she needs to. Let’s move on,” Thurber said.
Barnett did not agree with that assessment.
“That is in no way a small thing,” he said. “That is a clear violation of the law. You (Shults) said last meeting you have not used your phone. Now you are using it. The problem is that you’re the clerk, you should know this.”
Shults said she has purchased a cell phone for personal use. The state will continue to investigate the issue. The meeting closed with some pleas for change, with trustee John Steimel perhaps summarizing the mood.
“My fear is that the feelings between board members may not be reversible,” Steimel said. “That’s what happens when you bring politics into this office. There is a chance it can’t be fixed. I don’t want to see four more years of this stuff.”